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LOS ANGELES (CBSLA/AP) — A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual contact with female inmates, authorities announced Thursday.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell confirmed that 31-year-old Giancarlo Scotti, a 10-year veteran of the department, was
arrested on suspicion of two counts of rape under color of authority and two counts of oral copulation.

“This is appalling,” McDonnell said at a news conference announcing the arrest. “It’s a violation of the trust the public puts in us.”

Facebook photo of Giancarlo Scotti

The case stemmed from complaints filed by two female inmates at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, McDonnell said.

McDonnell said one of the female inmates allegedly assaulted filed a complaint, and a subsequent investigation revealed that there were two alleged victims.

The alleged rapes occurred between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Wednesday. One of the inmates complained to one of her instructors at 9 a.m. By 10 a.m. Scotti was locked inside the watch commander’s office and questioned. He remained there until 6 p.m. when he was booked and charged.

Scotti has been placed on paid leave and is due in court next month.

It wasn’t immediately known if Scotti has an attorney. Scotti’s union says the public should “withhold judgment until the facts of the case are proven.”